Lectionary Liturgies

Liturgies based on the RCL readings for each Sunday of the church year. I post these for folks to use in worship, as they deem appropriate. If you use these posted liturgies on a regular basis, I hope you might consider making a modest donation to my writing ministry.

There
is no need to wait in long lines.God is
always willing to listen – to our hearts as well as our voices, as we admit how
we have not cared as we could, have not shared as we should.Let us join, as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer for
Forgiveness

This season is supposed to be so holy, God
of Christmas, yet the din of sales pitches turns us into cynical grumps.As we drive down the streets, the decorations
on all the houses keep us from seeing the loneliness of the widower, the
strained faces of those who fear the future.We are so determined to find just the right gift or card which speaks of
joy, we forget that you came so long ago to offer justice to those who have
none.

Be patient with us, God of our hearts, as we
struggle to speak for the voiceless, to walk with those who have lost their
way, to let go of our certainty of what really happened to long ago, and listen
to the songs of children which speak of that peace which really can bring
reconciliation, of that grace which really can offer hope, of that love which
really can to us that night in Bethlehem, in the birth of Jesus, our Brother,
our Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Do
not be afraid, but believe.Our God is
here, opening our eyes to see that salvation which is ours approaching us in
this season of Advent.

We join our voices in
rejoicing in God who is our Savior.The
One who calls us blessed, is the God who forgives us.Amen.

Prayer of
Dedication/Offering

We
pray that with our gifts, as well as our lives, we will tell of those who are
given voice, those who are put back on their feet, those who show us the way,
and those who offer us grace and hope, as well.In Jesus’ name, we pray.Amen.

Great Prayer of
Thanksgiving

May
the Creator of the Holy Way be with you.

And also with you.

Do
not be afraid, people of God, but lift your hearts to the holy One.

Our hearts will be
filled with God’s hope and grace.

Children
of God, offer songs of goodness to the One who keeps faith forever.

We offer glad praises
to the One who comes with justice.

You
carved a holy way

through
chaos, Unveiling God,

rejoicing
with Word and Spirit as creation

trickled down mountains to form rivers,

birds built nests in shrubs and trees,

bees and butterflies pollinated meadows.

These
great, and good, things were

for
those formed in your image

so
we might be with you in wonder,

but we were blinded by sin’s

sparkling seductions and could not

envision the life you offered to us.

Patiently,
you sent prophets to us,

who
urged us over and again to return,

but we continued to look favorably

upon the gifts offered by sin and death.

So
you emptied your strong heart,

becoming
weak in the baby

born
in Bethlehem for us.

With
those you have put back on their feet,

with
those you knock off our presumptions,

we
sing our carols to you:

Holy, holy, holy are
you, God who does great things.

All creation shall
rejoice, offering you praise.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who
keeps your promises.

Hosanna in the highest!

Holiness
is the path you walk, Gracious God,

and
your Child, Jesus, is the One

who
comes with justice for all your people.

When
we are worry, world, and work weary,

he comes to strengthen our hearts,

to stand us back on our
feet.

When
disappointment silences us,

he comes to teach us

how to proclaim the good news.

When
we cannot see our way out of our foolishness,

he comes to point us toward salvation’s
dawn.

When
we were held captive by sin,

he came, giving himself in love,

so joy might dance in our hearts,

and we could gather bouquets

of resurrection gladness as

death ran away.

As
we draw closer to the joy of his birth,

as
we remember his death and resurrection at this feast,

we
bear witness to the holy way of faith which is a mystery:

Christ died, trusting
that your weakness destroys death;

Christ was raised,
telling us of the resurrection he had seen and heard;

All
too often, we believe God’s vision of justice and peace is only for us, not
those around us.We are sure others need
to be cleansed and forgiven, but not us.Let us seek to live as if, indeed, the kingdom is coming near, as we
offer our prayers to the One who calls us to Advent living, as we pray
together, saying,

Unison Prayer of
Confession

Goodness Incarnate, we must confess that we
have not lived as your children.We
muddy the clear waters of baptism with the detritus of walking over those we
claim we love.We sit in our lonely
lives feasting on bitterness, when we could be feasting with those we are told
not to trust.We wait for all our
desires to be taken care of by you, while you hope we would fill the lives of
others with your grace and hope.

Forgive us, God of this holy season, and
help us to be as willing to draw near to others, so we might heal their
brokenness, touch their loneliness, embrace their grief, and love them as you
did when you came to us so long ago, as well as in these moments, in Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Here
is the good news:

speak
with the whispers of hope until it silences despair;

sing
the carols of compassion until all join in the chorus;

shower
others with wonder and delight and join in God’s dance of grace.

Thanks be to God.We are forgiven!So, let us welcome others with open arms,
just as we have been embraced in God’s love and laughter.Amen.

Prayer of
Dedication/Offering

May
your Spirit of generosity rest upon us, Caring God, so that our giving does not
end here, but only begins to flow forth in a baptism of hope, of grace, of
healing, and of peace to all around us, as well as those we may never meet.In Jesus’ name, we pray.Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May
the Advent God give you hope.

May God grant you
peace.

Let
us lift our hearts to God who offers righteousness to all.

We open our hearts to
the One who loves justice.

Children
of God, rejoice in the One who call us to live in harmony with everyone.

Amen and Amen!We give our thanks to God!

In
those days when chaos reigned,

creation
appeared, Coming God,

as
you spoke the Word

which caused snow to cap mountains;

as
you breathed the Spirit

which give life to sheep and shepherds;

as
your steadfast loved shaped

all that is good and beautiful and good.

All
this was intended for those clothed

in
your image of grace and hope,

but we insisted on putting on sin’s coat,

cinching death’s belt around our ways.

Through
the prophets of every age,

we
heard your words of encouragement,

but chose to keep looking for life

in the seductions offered to us by sin.

So,
in that moment we least expected,

Jesus
came, to baptize us with

the
Holy Spirit’s peace and hope.

With
those who have trouble playing nice,

with
those who seek to bear fruit,

together
with one voice, we glorify you:

Holy, holy, holy are
you, God who gives hope to all.

All creation gathers
your harvest of peace.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who
stands side-by-side

with the most vulnerable.

Hosanna in the highest!

In
your holiness, God who approaches,

we
find righteousness and justice;

in
your Child, Jesus, we discover

our
salvation and hope.

When
the world dumps buckets

of
muddy meanness over us,

he baptizes us in the

Spirit’s cleansing waters.

When
those around us throw

stones
of bitterness and fear,

he takes them to build

homes of hope.

When
people would try to divide us,

he builds a park where enemies

push each other in swings,

and sit side-by-side on the grass

for the Lamb’s picnic.

As
we inch closer to Bethlehem,

as
we wait for the kingdom to draw near,

we
sing of that mystery which comes as faith:

This is the One who
died, blessing those who feared him;

this is the One who was
raised, the Spirit of resurrection resting on him;

We
may not know the time, but our every moment is held in God’s hands.We may not do and say what we should or
could, but God offers us words of forgiveness.Join me as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer for
Forgiveness

Sometimes it is hard for us to take you
seriously, God of our lives.With
terrorism stalking us, how can we think of turning bombers into shelters for
the homeless?With bullies using the airwaves
to threaten those around us, how could we not respond with anger and vindictive
slights?With our hopes turned to ashes,
how can we become beacons of light for those in the shadows?

Forgive us, God of holy seasons, and have
mercy.In the days to come, may we
discover the grace which has always been ours, so we can share it with
others.May we taste the sweet goodness
of your love, and feed those around us.May we be filled with the peace of your Spirit, so we may expect you to
come in those we least expect, in places which surprise us, in moments we
overlook, just as you did in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Reach
out and touch the kingdom, for it is right next to you.Breathe in, and feel the Spirit of peace and
hope.Trust and believe this good news:
God is nearer than you might ever imagine.

Thanks be to God, we
are forgiven!We can set aside our
differences and embrace everyone, we can seek peace for all in our lives, our
neighborhoods, our world.Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Our
gifts seem so insignificant considering the need, so paltry when we look at the
brokenness around us.But in the days to
come, you promise to take them so that others might be fed, clothed, housed,
and embraced in your grace and hope.Amen.

We wonder what's
for lunch, we worry about work tomorrow, we fret about the test that is coming
up. So much worry, so much time waster over things we cannot
control. The One who showers earth with rain, who places the stars in the
autumn sky, is the same One who wraps mercy tight around you, who feeds us on
healing and hope. Let us confess how our worries keep us from trusting
the God who hears us and restores us to new life. Please join me as we
pray,

Unison Prayer for
Forgiveness

Because we live in this modern, tech-driven,
twittering age, we often forget what you have done for us, God of every
blessing. We pat ourselves
on the back for our ability to learn new computer skills, but have forgotten
that life is more than a machine. We have more than we could ever
use yet, like squirrels, store up more and more. Our faith is
often pushed to the back of the closet, to make room for all the fears we
wear so easily.

Forgive us, Restorer of life. As you
clothe us with your grace and mercy, may we share with those who have so
little. As our hearts overflow with your love and wonder, may we
offer them as gifts to everyone we meet. As you feed us with your joy and
hope, may we welcome to the Table all those who lives are filled with tears and
pain. As we gather with family and friends during this season, may we
continue to give thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of
Pardon

This is the good
news: as God dresses creation in wonder, so you will be clothed in grace; as
God pours out abundance upon the earth, so you will be blessed with peace and
joy.

We don't say it
often enough, but thanks be to God for healing, for life, for wonder, for
mercy. We are blessed, for we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

Our tables groan with too much food, so may our gifts feed the hungry;

we welcome family into our homes, so may we embrace the lonely;

we sleep in warm beds at night, so may we shelter the homeless;

we are blessed with more than we need, so may our gifts fill the emptiness of our sisters and brothers in need. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Great Prayer of
Thanksgiving

The Lord of
blessings be with you.

The Lord be with
you, also.

Be glad and
rejoice, God's people,

lifting your
hearts to the restorer of lives.

We offer them to
the God who clothes us in grace.

People of God,
come to the Table where you shall eat and be satisfied.